WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump praised the men and women who serve as law enforcement officers across the U.S.
“We will always be protecting ICE and our Border Patrol and our law enforcement,” he said at an unrelated meeting at the White House.
He made the comments on Friday, which is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, after a reporter asked him what he thinks about the deadly shooting in Minneapolis, which involved an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
The agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good after she allegedly tried to ram him and other officers with her SUV.
Trump, who was also asked about the investigation into the shooting, said he doesn’t think the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) should be sharing evidence with state officials in Minnesota. Earlier this week, federal officials cut the state out of its investigation.
“They’re crooked officials,” Trump said of Minnesota leaders.
He also called Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is “a fool” and “a stupid person.”
Walz, meanwhile, expressed outrage that state officials were pushed out of the investigation. He also said Trump and members of his administration have been spreading lies about the case.
“People in positions of power have already passed judgment — from the president to the vice president to Kristi Noem — and have told you things that are verifiably false,” Walz said at a news conference.
The governor and other local leaders said they think it’s time ICE stops it’s immigration operation in the area. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized ICE in the wake of Good’s death, as he said federal agents should “get the f*** out” of the city.
“What they are doing is not to provide safety in America, what they are doing is causing chaos and distrust,” Frey previously said during a separate news briefing. “They’re ripping families apart. They’re sowing chaos on our streets, and in this case, quite literally killing people. So they are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took to social media to honor ICE officers, Border Patrol agents, as well as police officers, on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, describing them as heroes who protect the public.
“These men and women are patriots in the truest sense. They are steady under pressure and resolute in purpose. Their sacrifice is not small — they bear endless slander from the media, and are accosted every day by those who wish to do them harm,” according to the post.
“Even so, they continue to hold the line with bravery. Be sure today to thank those men and women in your life who have sworn an oath to protect our homeland. As we need them, they now need us,” the post noted.
ICE also said its agents and other members of law enforcement carry out “complex, demanding and dangerous missions in service to the public,” as well as “work tirelessly” under challenging circumstances.
“These officers and agents put in long hours, face grave personal risk, and carry tremendous amounts of responsibility,” ICE noted in a news release. “Despite doing an often-thankless job, they keep showing up to protect the communities they serve — and for many, their commitment to their communities doesn’t end when their shifts do. ICE honors the brave men and women who run toward danger so others can be free from it.”
As the investigation into Good’s death continues, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison urged the public to share information and submit video of the shooting to state authorities.
“Don’t judge for yourself whether it’s very important or not very important. Let the people who are evaluating and gathering the evidence make that decision. But if you have information bearing on the outcome of this matter in any way, please share it,” Ellison said during a news conference on Friday afternoon.
“And I will say many of you in the press may ask the question, ‘is this a state investigation?’ Well, gathering evidence is certainly a component of the investigation. We are going to do the best that we can do for the public knowing that the current posture of the federal — and this is not a critique of them. It’s just a statement of fact — the current posture is that the investigation is one that the feds want to do without state involvement,” he added.
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